Cage spacer

ABSTRACT

A cage spacer for spacing reinforcing rods or welded fabric a specified distance from mold walls for poring concrete during construction projects. The cage spacer comprises two intersection bodies oriented perpendicular to each other and preferable with one body having a base higher than the other. A pair of pads on opposite ends of a first body base for stabilizing the body on the rebar. A pair of rebar engaging clips on opposite ends of the second body base for snapping onto and gripping a perpendicularly intersecting rebar such that the rebar is held securely in the clips. The cage spacer attaches over the intersection of a pair of rebars. At least one apex of the bodies engages a mold wall to keep the mold wall a specified distance from the rebars while concrete is being poured in the mold.

This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/304,774 filed Nov. 26,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,021 which is a continuation-in-part ofSer. No. 10/224,837 filed Aug. 21, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to clip on spacers for rebars or welded fabricused in structures to space the rebars or welded fabric a specifieddistance from concrete mold walls.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the past concrete rebars or welded fabric have been held in place bya variety of devices. Some of the devices are for holding the rebars orwelded fabric a specified distance above the ground and so have a largeground contacting area to form a stable base for holding the rebars orwelded fabric up without the spacer tipping over. Other spacers are usedto hold mold walls away from a lattice of intersecting rebars or weldedfabric. In this use a large contact area with the wall will leave alarge area of the spacer exposed when the mold is removed. The concreteis thereby prevented from filling in the volume against the mold wall inthe space occupied by the spacer. It is important to have as small afootprint of the spacers at the mold so that the edges of the pouredconcrete has more concrete on the outer surface for greater strength andfor a better appearance.

Some spacers have clip on portions where two clips on each rebar arevery close together such that the spacer can twist or turn on the rebar.These spacers are thus not held sufficiently straight, resulting invariations of spacing distance between the mold wall and the rebars orwelded fabric. It is important to have spacers that will stay aligned tohold the mold wall a specified distance from the rebars or weldedfabric.

Some spacers have clip on connections, which can come loose duringimpacts received during the construction process. It is desired to haveclips that will stay connected once installed on the rebars or weldedfabric.

Strike Tool 31785 64^(th) Ave., Cannon Falls, Minn. 55009, has a pyramidspacer with a C-shaped clip-on portion for engaging rebars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The pyramid spacers have a pointed tip for contacting the mold wallsthus leaving a small footprint on the outer portion of the pouredconcrete. The pyramid spacers also have a wide base with the clipsspaced at the ends of the base for engaging rebars or welded fabric toprovide stability against twisting forces such that the pyramid spacerremains oriented to space the rebars or welded fabric at a specifieddistance from the mold walls. Further the clips on the pyramid spacershave a rebar engaging portion for the rebar or welded fabric to fit intoand two arms pressing on the rebar or welded fabric to lock the rebar orwelded fabric snugly in place. The pyramid spacers also have a pair ofpads at the corners of the base for engaging a perpendicularly crossingrebar or welded fabric to stably hold the pyramid spacers in a planedefined by the intersection of the rebars or welded fabric. Having onlyone pair of clips makes it easier to install the pyramid spacers.

In another embodiment the cage spacers have a trapezoid body portion anda double apex body portion with pads and clips for engaging the rebarsor welded fabric. The double apex embodiment provides more stability ofthe cage spacer relative to the mold wall by having two contact points.In a further embodiment the cage spacer has two perpendicular doubleapex portions providing four apexes for engaging the mold wall anddefining the plane of contact such that the cage spacer is stable on allaxis against the mold wall.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a spacer for spacing rebarsor welded fabric a specified distance from molds.

It is an object of the invention to provide a spacer that will not comeoff of the rebars or welded fabric once installed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a spacer that will not twistor turn once installed which will change the distance of the rebars orwelded fabric to the mold wall.

It is an object of the invention to provide a small footprint of thespacer at the mold wall.

It is an object of the invention to provide spacers with clips that areeasy to install.

It is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive, reliable anddurable spacer.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top angled perspective view of the cage spacer with asideways facing clip.

FIG. 2 is a bottom angled perspective view of the cage spacer with asideways facing clip.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cage spacer with a sideways facing clip.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cage spacer with a sideways facing clip.

FIG. 5 is a top angled perspective view of the cage spacer with adownward facing clip.

FIG. 6 is a bottom angled perspective view of the cage spacer with adownward facing clip.

FIG. 7 is a side front of the cage spacer with a downward facing clip.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the cage spacer with a downward facing clip.

FIG. 9 is a bottom angled perspective view of the cage spacer with asideways facing clip having rebar engaging pins and feathers.

FIG. 10 is a top angled perspective view of the cage spacer having twoapexes with a sideways facing clip.

FIG. 11 is a bottom angled perspective view of the cage spacer havingtwo apexes with a sideways facing clip.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the cage spacer having two apexes with asideways facing clip.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the cage spacer having two apexes with asideways facing clip.

FIG. 14 is a top angled perspective view of the cage spacer having fourapexes with a sideways facing clip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

There are two cage spacer clip orientations shown in the figures. InFIGS. 1-4 the cage spacer 10 has a sideways facing clip portion 80 forengaging a reinforcing rod. In a second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 5-8,the cage spacer 100 has a downward facing clip portion 180 for engaginga reinforcing rod. In all other respects the structure of cage spacers10 and 100 are the same in the two embodiments.

The cage spacer 10 has a pyramid portion 20 comprising two triangle bodyportions 30 and 40, intersecting right angles to each other andoverlapping in their center portions along a common central apex axis.The triangles 30 and 40 are offset at their tips and bases such that thetop of triangle portion 40 is the tip of apex 70. The tip of triangle 30is slightly lower than the tip of triangle 40. The footprint of the apex70 of the cage spacer 10 is thus reduced at the interface with the moldthus increasing the concrete available at the mold surface. The base 35of triangle 30 is lower than the base 45 of triangle 40 to accommodatethe difference in height of the intersecting rebars or welded fabric towhich they are attached. Triangle portion 30 has the clip portions 80attached at the corners of base 35. Triangle 40 has pad portions 50attached at the corners of base 45 for engaging a rebar. Aperture 60 isremoved from the center of triangle portion 30 at its base 35 toaccommodate a rebar passing therethrough. Thus the cage spacer isdesigned to attach at the intersection of two rebars or at theintersection of the fabric in the welded fabric such that the cagespacer apex 70 it perpendicular to the plane formed by the intersectingrebars or of the welded fabric.

Clip 80 has a rebar engaging portion 82, two arm supporting segments 86,and two angled arms 84 angling inward from the arm supporting segments86 toward the open end of the rebar engaging portion 82 near the centerof clip 80. Clip 80 is placed on the rebar by forcing the angled arms 84apart until the rebar rests in the rebar engaging portion 82. Then theangled arms 84 are able to spring back into their unstressed position.When the rebar is enclosed in the rebar engaging portion 82 it can notescape since arms 84 have captured it in place. Clips 80 are spacedapart at the ends of base 35 on triangular body portion 30 such that thecage spacer 10 is stabilized.

The cage spacer 10 is held securely on the plane defined by theintersecting rebars or intersecting fibers in a welded fabric by pads 50and clips 80. The apex 70 of the pyramid is thereby held firmly so thatit will always provide a specified distance from the plane of the rebarsor welded fabric to the mold surface.

Clip portion 80 has arms 84 forming an entry to the rebar engagingportion 82 at a right angle to the apex axis may present a problem inthat it may be difficult to force the cage spacer 10 on to the rebar orthe fabric in a welded fabric from the side. It would be easier to placethe cage spacer 10 on the rebars or fabric of the welded fabric at theintersection of the rebars or fabric of the welded fabric if the clipportion 80 was oriented to push straight down on the rebars or weldedfabric.

In a second embodiment 100, shown in FIGS. 5-8, the cage spacer 100 hasclip portion 180 rotated 90 degrees compared to the first embodimentcage spacer 10. In this embodiment the cage spacer 100 can be attachedby pushing the cage spacer 100 straight down into the plane of theintersecting rebars or the intersecting fabric of a welded fabric.

There are tradeoffs between the embodiments of cage spacer 10 and cagespacer 100. In cage spacer 10 the clips 80 are at 90 degrees to theplane of the base of the pyramid and are more difficult to install overthe rebars or the fabric of a welded fabric. The advantage is that therebar engaging portion 82 has a wall engaging the rebar such that therewill be very little play to move the spacer on the rebar such that theapex 70 will more reliably point perpendicular to the plane of theintersecting rebars or fabric of a welded fabric.

In the embodiment of cage spacer 100 the cage spacer is easier toinstall but the arms 84 may allow the cage spacer to pivot on the axisof the rebar or welded fabric due to the arms 84 not being as solid abarrier and as well positioned as the wall 88 of the clip portion 80 ofcage spacer 10.

The arms 84 are designed to have their ends engage the rebar or fabricof the welded fabric at angles such that the rebar or fabric of thewelded fabric is held snugly in the recess of the rebar engaging portion82 with the ends of arms 84 blocking the escape of the rebars or fabricof the welded fabric by engaging the rebars' or fabrics' circumference.

The triangular body portions 30 and 40 do not have to be of equalheights, or have equal length bases, or equal angles. The triangles 30and 40 may be offset in height by differing amounts. Alternativelytriangular body portions 30 and 40 need not be offset at all, such thatthe apex of both triangles are at the apex of the pyramid. Further, apin 75 (FIG. 8) may be extended from the apex of the higher of thepyramids to form the tip of the cage spacer and extent the height of thecage spacer while presenting a small footprint at the mold wall.Similarly, feathers 175 (FIG. 9) on the base of pads 50 also provide asmaller footprint of the pads 50 on the rebars or welded fabric the cagespacers 100 are installed on. Further, when the rebars or welded fabriccontact the feathers 175 the feathers are deformed or bent over by thepressure at the contact points. The contact points absorb shocks andvibrations and reduce the movement of the rebars or welded fabric on thepads.

As FIG. 9 shows, pins 90 can be used to position the top rebar or fabricon a welded fabric between the pins 90 to align the top rebar or fabricof the welded fabric within aperture 60 and to serve as a back stop forthe bottom rebar in clip portion 80. The pins 90 also align with theback portion of rebar engaging portion 82 to act as a guide forinstalling the cage spacer on the rebars or fabric of the welded fabricand to hold the rebars or fabric of the welded fabric in a straightline.

Although the triangular body portions 30 and 40 are shown as equilateraltriangles any triangles may be used. Further, the apex and base of thefirst and second triangle segments can vary is as to which is has thehigher apex and lower base. Alternatively, one triangle segment can havethe higher apex and the lower base.

In a third embodiment 200, shown in FIGS. 10-13, the cage spacer 200 hastwo apexes 270 spaced apart from each other providing two points ofcontact with a wall for linearly aligning the cage spacer 200 with thewall on one axis. A single point of contact 70 can be tilted to the siderelative the clip portions 80 whereas two points of contact form a lineso that the cage spacer is not tilted on this axis. Pads 50 on cagespacer 200 are spaced apart and provide a line of contact withreinforcing rods on a perpendicular axis to the two apexes 270 incontact with the wall. In this manner the cage spacers 200 are made morestable and do not twist relative to the face of the wall due to a nonexact fit of clip portion 80 on a rebar or fabric of a welded fabric.

Cage spacer 200 has a base portion the same as the base portions of cagespacers 10 and 100. Cage spacer 200 has pads 50, aperture 60, and a clipportion 80 which can be either perpendicular (as in cage spacer 10) orparallel (as in cage spacer 100) to the top to bottom axis.

Cage spacer 200 has a trapezoid portion 230 and a double apex portion240 which are perpendicular to each other and have a plateau portion 290at their intersection. The apexes are on opposite sides of the cagespacer to provide for stability when in contact with a wall. In anotherembodiment the trapezoid portion 230 can be replaced with another doubleapex portion 240 to provide stability in four corners so that the planeof the cage spacer is defined with respect to the wall it engages.

Cage spacer 200 may have different styles of apex portion 240 portions.As shown the apex is at the top of a triangular extension from plateau290 however any style of height extension may be employed. Further a pin75 may be employed to extend the apex 270 so that the pin 75 engages thewall with a smaller cross section of cement being displaced at theinterface of the wall and the cage spacer.

The cage spacers 10, 100 and 200 can be made to fit various sized rebarsor welded fabrics and have differing heights for spacing the mold wallsat different distances from the rebars or welded fabric. Although thecage spacers are described as attaching to rebars or welded frabricsthroughout the application wires or other means for making cages tosupport cage spacers and reinforce the concrete can be used with thecage spacers.

The cage spacers 10, 100 and 200 can each optionally have features suchas the pins 75 and 90 or feathers 175.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

1. A case spacer comprising: a first planar body portion having a topand a base and a second planar body portion having a top and a baseperpendicular to and bisecting the first planar body, the first planarbody portion base with a pad at each end for engaging rebars, the secondplanar body base having a clip portion at each end the clip portionhaving a rebar engaging portion, arm support segments extending from therebar engaging portion and opposing arms radially angled toward thecenter of the rebar engaging portion for capturing a rebar thereinattached to the support segments, the first planar body portioncomprises a first trianaular body portion having an apex and a base andthe second planar body portion comprises a second triangular bodyportion having an apex and a base wherein the trianaular body portionsintersect on a line which includes both apexes to define an apex axis,the first triangle apex being at a different height than the secondtriangle apex, the first triagular body portion and second triangularbody portion oriented perpendicular to each other, with their basesparallel to a common plane and perpendicular to the apex axis, the baseof the first and second triangular body portions are at differentheights to accommodate the position of intersecting rebars, the base ofthe second triangular body portion having an aperture therethrough atthe intersection of the first base and the second base for allowing arebar to pass therethrough, pins adjacent each side of the aperture onthe base of the second body portion and extending lower than the base,the pins circumference engages the rebars on a line parallel to the backof the rebar engaging portion to retain the rebars.
 2. A cage spacercomprising: a first planar body portion having a top and a base and asecond planar body portion having a top and a base perpendicular to andbisecting the first planar body, the first planar body portion base witha pad at each end for engaging rebars, the second planar body basehaving a clip portion at each end the clip portion having a rebarengaging portion, arm support segments extending from the rebar engagingportion and opposing arms radially angled toward the center of the rebarengaging portion for capturing a rebar therein attached to the supportsegments, the first planar body portion comprises a first triangularbody portion having an apex and a base and the second planar bodyportion comprises a second triangular body portion having an apex and abase wherein the triangular body portions intersect on a line whichincludes both apexes to define an apex axis, the first triangle apexbeing at a different height than the second triangle apex, the firsttriangular body portion and second triangular body portion orientedperpendicular to each other, with their bases parallel to a common planeand perpendicular to the apex axis, the base of the first and secondtriangular body portions are at different heights to accommodate theposition of intersecting rebars, a pin extending from the apex increasesthe distance to a mold wall and reduces the footprint of the cage spaceron a mold wall.
 3. A cage spacer comprising: a first planar body portionhaving a top and a base and a second planar body portion having a topand a base perpendicular to and bisecting the first planar body, thefirst planar body portion base with a pad at each end for engagingrebars, the second planar body base having a clip portion at each endthe clip portion having a rebar engaging portion, arm support segmentsextending from the rebar engaging portion and opposing arms radiallyangled toward the center of the rebar engaging portion for capturing arebar therein attached to the support segments, the first planar bodyportion comprises a first triangular body portion having an apex and abase and the second planar body portion comprises a second triangularbody portion having an apex and a base wherein the triangular bodyportions intersect on a line which includes both apexes to define anapex axis, the first triangle apex being at a different height than thesecond triangle apex, the first triangular body portion and secondtriangular body portion oriented perpendicular to each other, with theirbases parallel to a common plane and perpendicular to the apex axis, thebase of the first and second triangular body portions are at differentheights to accommodate the position of intersecting rebars, a feather onthe pads reduces the footprint of the cage spacer on a rebar.
 4. A cagespacer comprising: a first planar body portion having a top and a baseand a second planar body portion having a top and a base perpendicularto and bisecting the first planar body, the first planar body portionbase with a pad at each end for engaging rebars, the second planar bodybase having a clip portion at each end the clip portion having a rebarengaging portion, arm support segments extending from the rebar engagingportion and opposing arms radially angled toward the center of the rebarengaging portion for capturing a rebar therein attached to the supportsegments, the first planar body portion comprises a trapezoid bodyportion having a top and a base and the second planar body portioncomprises a double apex body portion having a top and a base wherein thebody portions intersect perpendicularly at their centers, and theirbases are parallel to a common plane, the base of the trapezoidal bodyportion and the double apex portion are at different heights toaccommodate the position of intersecting rebars.
 5. A cage spacer as inclaim 4 wherein, the rebar engaging portions are oriented parallel tothe axis of the intersecting bodies.
 6. A cage spacer as in claim 4wherein, the rebar engaging portions are oriented perpendicular to theaxis of the intersecting bodies.
 7. A cage spacer as in claim 4 wherein,the base of the double apex body portion having an aperture therethroughat the intersection of the double apex body portion for allowing a rebarto pass therethrough.
 8. A cage spacer as in claim 7 wherein, pinsadjacent each side of the aperture on the base of the double apex bodyportion and extending lower than the base, the pins circumference forengaging the rebars on a line parallel to the back of the rebar engagingportion to retain the rebars.
 9. A cage spacer as in claim 4 wherein, apin extends from the apexes to increase the distance to a mold wall andreduce the footprint of the cage spacer on the mold wall.
 10. A cagespacer as in claim 4 wherein, a feather on the pads reduces thefootprint of the cage spacer on a rebar.
 11. A cage spacer comprising: afirst planar body portion having a top and a base and a second planarbody portion having a top and a base perpendicular to and bisecting thefirst planar body, the first planar body portion base with a pad at eachend for engaging rebars, the second planar body base having a clipportion at each end the clip portion having a rebar engaging portion,arm support segments extending from the rebar engaging portion andopposing arms radially angled toward the center of the rebar engagingportion for capturing a rebar therein attached to the support segments,the first planar body portion comprises a first double apex body portionhaving a top and a base and the second planar body portion comprises asecond double apex body portion having a top and a base wherein the bodyportions intersect perpendicularly at their centers, and their basesparallel to a common plane, the bases of the double apex body portionsare at different heights to accommodate the position of intersectingrebars.
 12. A cage spacer as in claim 11 wherein, the rebar engagingportions are oriented parallel to the axis of the intersecting bodies.13. A cage spacer as in claim 11 wherein, the rebar engaging portionsare oriented perpendicular to the axis of the intersecting bodies.
 14. Acage spacer as in claim 11 wherein, the base of the second double apexbody portion having an aperture therethrough at the intersection of thefirst and second double apex body portions for allowing a rebar to passtherethrough.
 15. A cage spacer as in claim 14 wherein, pins adjacentthe each side of the aperture on the base of the second double apex bodyportion and extending lower than the base, the pins circumference forengaging the rebars on a line parallel to the back of the rebar engagingportion to retain the rebars.
 16. A cage spacer as in claim 11 wherein,a pin extends from the apexes to increases the distance to a mold walland reduces the footprint of the cage spacer on the mold.
 17. A cagespacer as in claim 11 wherein, a feather on the pads reduces thefootprint of the cage spacer on a rebar.